Means for cutting off the ends of boiler-tubes.



PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

J. R. WHITTEMORB. MEANS FOR CUTTING. OFF THE ENDS 0F BOILER TUBES.-

AIPLIOATION FILE-DIAL 14, 1907- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VENTOR.

John R .whifiemore.

A TTORNEY.

r: NORRIS PETERS cu WAsHmaruN. v.12

No. 866,412. PATENTED SBPT.17,190'7.

V J. R. WH1TTEMORE.-

MEANS FOR CUTTING OFF THE-ENDS 0P BOILER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED MALI 1. 1907. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a. H WEI'i 5 INVENTOR:

A TTORN E Y.

JOHN It. WHITTEMORE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MEANS FOR CUTTING OFF THE ENDS OF BOILER-TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed March 14,1907. Serial No- 362,290.

To (il-Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. Wr-nTTE onE, of Indianap'olis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Means for Cutting Off the Ends of Boiler Tubes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a rapid, convenient and efiicient means for properly cutting off the ends of boiler tubes after the boiler tubes have been put in place.

It consists of a tool with a portion insertible in the end of the boiler tube, and carrying rotary cutters which are pressed into cutting engagement with the internal surface of the boiler tube by the longitudinal movement of the tapering, rotated bar, and also by its rotating movement which in its rotation separates and forces the rotary cutters outward.

The nature of this invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings, and the following description and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool with the boiler head and two tubes in section, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an ordinary simple section through the tool and one tube and a portion of the boiler head, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 3, showing position of the cutters at the end instead of at the beginning of the operation. Fig. 6 is a section similar to the right hand end of Fig. 2, with some parts omitted, and the holder slipped to the left to the nut-releasing position. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 7 with the halves of the nut sprung outward.

After the boiler tubes 10 have been put in place in the boiler head 11 the ends of the tubes project and need to be cut off so as to extend a uniform distance beyond the end of the boiler. In Fig. 1- the lower tube has been cut off, the cut-off portion being indicated by dotted lines, and the upper tube is being cut off. There is a tubular casing 12, with an enlarged head 13, internally threaded to receive a sleeve-like extension 14, the outer end of which is provided with projections that bear against the head 11 of the boiler when the tool is .in place. A crank-shaped arm 15 is mounted on the head 13 rigidly with its free end turned at a right angle and extending into one of the boiler tubes for the purpose of preventing the rotation of the parts 12, 13 and 14 during the operation of the device. A sliding holder 16 ismounted on the tubular casing 12 with keys l7 and grooves 18 in the side of the casing. The grooves 18 are a little longer than the holder 16, so that at times said holder may be slipped to the left as shown in Fig. 6, to uncover the extreme end of the casing 12 andthe split nut 20, which said holder surrounds and holds in place on the threaded portion of the central rod 21. The split nut 20 is split longitudinally into two parts, each part pivoted on the bolt 22 longitudinally, that extends through the cap 23 at one end and screws into the end of the casing 12 at the other. The split nuts are provided with springs 24, secured on the bolts 22, with their free ends bearing against the pins 25, so that when the holder 16 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6 the springs will throw the sections of the nut 20 outward and release the rod 21. The rod 21 is round at its threaded portion but triangular substantially throughout its inner portion, then gradually enlarges from the threaded portion inwardly. It has three substantially flat sides against which the cutter holders 28 rest, which carry the rotary cutters 29. These cutter holders 28 are loosely mounted so as to be radially movable, and as the rod 21 is rotated it rotates the cutter holders 28 and forces them outward by this rotation and also by the longitudinal travel of the rod 21, as from the positions shown in Figs. 2 to 5. An endless spiral spring 30 surrounds the cutter holders 28 and tends to draw them inward against the rod 21.

Within the head 13, an extension of the casing 12, a rotatably mounted tubular cutting means 32 is placed, having three radial openings in which the cutter holders 28 feed and operate. There are balls 33 between the stationary part 14 and the rotary part 32, as seen in Fig. 2. There are also balls 34 between the extreme inner end of the part 32 and a ring 35 that fits snugly within the boiler tube. There are also balls 36 be tween the ring 37 that fits snugly within the boiler tube and the round end or cap 38 on the extreme inner end of the rod 21. At the extreme. outer end of the rod 21 it is squared to receive some means for rotating the rod 21. A ring nut 39 holds the part 32 in place within the part 14.

The operation is as follows: The device is inserted in a tube, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and while the tool is held by one hand on the holder 16, power is turned on whereby the rod 21 is rotated. As said rod 21 rotates, the threaded nut 20 gradually moves itoutward and such movement of the rod 2l causes its enlarging inner, triangular end to simultaneously rotate the cutters and force them outward gradually until the tube is cut off. Then the tool is removed and inserted in another tube, the holder 16 being slipped inward to release the split nut and the rod 21, whereby it maybe pushed inward and the rotary cutter holders collapsed by the spring 30 sufficiently to enable the cutters to be in serted in the tube, as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the sections of the split nut 20 are moved in on the rod 21 and the holder 16 moved to the rod to hold the split nut on the rod 21, and the operation is repeated.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for cutting olt the ends of tubes including a stationary casing, a revolving cutter holding means mounted in connection with said casing and insertible in the end of the tube to be cut, a rotary cutter mounted in said cutter holding means so as to be radially movable, a rotary actuating rod extending through said cutter holding means and easing, the portion of said rod in said casing being round and threaded and the portion in said cutter holding means being angular in transverse section and gradually enlarged, a nut on the threaded portion of said rod, and means slidably mounted on said casing that is movable into and out of engagement with said nut.

2. A device for cutting off the ends of tubes including stationary casing, revolving cutter holding means mounted in connection with said casing and insertible into the end of the tube to be cut, a rotary cutter mounted in said cutter holding means so as to be radially movable, a rotary actuating rod extending through said cutter holding means and casing, the portion of said rod in said casing being round and threaded and the other portion being angular in the transverse section and gradually enlarged, a split nut on the threaded portion of said rod, and means slidably mounted on said casing that is movable over said split nut for holding its parts in engagement with the actuating rod, whereby said sleeve may be moved away from said split nut for releasing the nut and actuating rod after the tube has been cut 0E, substantially as set forth.

3. A machine for cutting 0d the ends of tubes including a revolving cutterholding means insertible into the end of the tube that is to be cut, a rotary cutter mounted therein so as to be radially movable, a rotating actuating rod extending through said cutter holding means angular in cross-section so that when rotated it will revolve said cutter-holding means and which is gradually enlarged throughout the portion operating through said cutterholding means, means for simultaneously rotating and moving said rod longitudinally for forcing the cutter grad ually outward, a bearing for the inner end of said actuating rod that has a ring slidable Within the tube being cut, and a disk on the rod rotatable in said ring.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aifixed my signature in the presence of the Witnesses herein named.

JOHN R. WHITTEMORE.

Witnesses O. BREEDEN, N. ALLEMONG. 

